Overedge sewing machine



Feb. 10, 1953 N. WALLENBERG EIAL 2,627,829

OVEREDGE SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1948 y 8 Sheets-Sheet l FIGJ IN VEN TORS.

ATTUENEY Feb. 10, 1953 N. WALLENBERG ETAL. 2,627,829

OVEREDGE SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. 7, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TORS.

ATTUEZYE'Y Feb. 10, 1953 N. L. WALLENBERG ETAL 2,627,329

OVEREDGE SEWING MACHINE z ggm 24 ATTURNE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 OVEREDGE SEWING MACHINE N. L; WALLENBERG ET AL \II llllllll IN VEN TORS Feb. 10, 1953 Filed Dec. 7, 1948 Feb. 10, 1953 N. 1.. WALLENBERG EI'AL 2,627,829

OVEREDGE SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. '7, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 o LQ- N I/ [ml VI/j/ g 4 \\g Z EN TOR$.

BY D 2235 FeB. "161553" N. 1.. WALLENBERG ET AL 2,627,829

OVEREDGE SEWING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Dec. 7, 1948 INVENTORS. "(1 i/ BY M 1:;

ATTUHNEY 1953 N. WALLENBERG ETAL 2,627,829

OVEREDGE SEWING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Dec. 7, 1948 On mm INVENTORS, Y f 2 B ATTUHNE Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Berwyn, 11., assignors to Union Special Machine: Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application December 7, 1948, serial Manatee 5 Claims. 1.

This invention relates to sewing machines and more particularly to machines adapted to produce overedge stitching, of either the two-thread or three-thread type. It relates especially to the lubrication of the various operas-agents of'such machines.

In accordance with modern practice; machines of the character indicated, used for cvereaging underwear and the like, are operated at high speeds which exceed those of most, if not all, other types of sewing machines. Speeds of over 5000 stitches per minute are common and efforts are constantly being'made to increase the speed of overedgers to 6000 stitches'pe'r minute. Operation of the driven parts at such high speeds greatly increases the problem of effecting adequate and proper lubrication, without undue deterioration of the lubricant'and' without discharging lubricant onto portions of the work or the threads or onto surfaces engaged by these or by the operator.

A primary object of theinvention hasbeen to provide efiective and efficient lubrication for all of the relatively moving parts of an overedge sewing machine; operated at" high speed, without spattering or otherwisedepositihg lubricant on the work, or'the stitchingtlireads 'or the operator.

Another important object has been to provide such lubrication with a minimum of agitation and working of the lubricant so thatrapid deterioration of the lubricant is avoided;

As an incident to the foregoing; it has been a further object to reduce to a minimum the amount of effort or power expended in bringing about the required distribution of the lubricant. This is of particular importance in the starting of a seaming operation. Means heretofore employed for distributing lubricant, in machines of the type to which the invention is directed, have interfered with therapid acceleration of the machinesfrom an idle toa full speed operating condition. This has resultedin uneven stitch formation since the character ofthestitch is influenced to a considerable eiite'nt by the speed at which the machine isdriven. Machines designed to produce partiemar character of stitch at a predetermined speed will not produce the desired result at the slower speedsinvolved dur ing the period's-of acceleration. By the present invention the machine is permitted to come up to full speed rapidly so; that a relatively?- small portion of each seam foi'lned under conditions other than those intended; The importance of this will be appreciated-when it reconsidered that seams are frequently quite short so that a machine is started and stopped at very frequent intervals in the course of its continuous use.

Another object of the invention has been to render readily accessible certain operating parts requiring frequent access for adjustment and the like,- while at the same time providing adequate lubrication therefor. Certain parts of the work: feeding mechanism are in this category.

A special feature'of the invention is the provision for grease lubrication of certain bearings which extend through the walls of an enclosed housing while the mechanism within the housing is lubricated by a fine spray or mist of a liquid lubricant. The heavy grease thus serves'the double function of lubricating certain important bearings and providing a seal aroun d shafts which extend through the wall of the housing. Incidental to the foregoing is-theprovision of needle bearings for the main rotary shaft and certain rock shafts of the machine.

Another special feature is the construction of the housing in twoflmai'n separable parts with a removable cover for the upper part and a removable base for the lower part" to facilitate accessto the interior. The arrangementis such that several rock shafts; identified with theneedle carrying member and a" reciprocating trimmer, are carried by the upper partof the housing-while the main driving shaft is in the lower part. Removal of the cover permits easy access to the driving-connections fortheirdiscon nection' whenever itis desired to separate-'theupper and lower par'ts of the housing. By virtue of this construction, it has been possible to locate the axis of the rock shaft on which a curved needlecarrier is mounted, and by which it is operated, very close to the plane ofthe work supporting surface. As a result, needle cutting of the work is substantially eliminated; since the needle enters the work siibst'antially normal thereto.

A further feature of the invention is the formationof; the removable top with a slope and a curvature'adapted to insure proper distribumm of the lubricant which is thrown against it by the dispersing or mist producing means. Ribs or pointed projectionsextendingdownwardly from the-slopingtop" also assist in delivering the lubricantto the desired points.

Special means arealso-provided for delivering lubricant, in just the requireda-mounts; to-various operatingparts; outside ofthemam heusin}; t which cannot be lubricated" directly by the mIS other-emcee, --featu res, and advantages or the invention will appear from the detailed description of an illustrative form of the same which will now be given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of the machine, as seen from the operators left;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine, with a portion of a cover element broken away to show the parts behind it;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through the machine;

Fig. 4 is a detail view, in end elevation, of an integral rock shaft and arm provided in the machine;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the element of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially along the line 6-5 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view through the machine, taken substantially along the line 1-! of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a transverse, vertical section, taken substantially along the line 8-8 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a detail view, in end elevation, of a rock shaft and its connected arm forming an element of the machine;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view along the line lili0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a detail view in horizontal section through a portion of the frame of the machine taken substantially along the line H-H of Fig. 3;

Fig. 12 is a detail view, in vertical section along the line l2--l2 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 13 is a detail view, in vertical section along the line [33-43 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 14 is a detail view, in vertical section along the line Mi4 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 15 is a front elevational view of a modified form of the left hand portion of the frame structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 16 is a detail View, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, showing the needle carrier and movable trimmer arm and associated parts; and

Fig. 17 is a detail view showing in plan the movable trimmer arm and associated parts.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly Fig. 3, the frame of the machine comprises a base plate to on which is mounted a housing that is divided horizontally into two sections,

the lower section II being secured to the base by screws or the like. A gasket lta is provided between section H and the base plate. The upper section E2 of the frame may be separated from the lower section H along the line 13 (Figs. 3 and 6) and is secured to the lower section by a series of screws l4 (Figs. 6 and 7). The major portion of the top of the enclosed chamber is enclosed by a removable cover i5, a gasket 16 being provided between the edges of the cover and the edges of the top section l2. Screws (not shown) which are preferably countersunk in recesses [8 in the cover (Fig. 2) serve to retain the cover on the upper section of the frame. The four members, In, ll, 12, and i5, serve to form an enclosed chamber for housing the major portion of the operating mechanism of the machine, this chamber being substantially oil-tight and adapted to retain lubricant to the level indicated at [9 in Figs. 3 and 6.

. An extension 20 at the left end of the lower section II of the frame (Fig. 3) serves to provide the lower portion of a substantially enclosed auxiliary chamber 2|. Extension 20 cooperates with the gasket ma between the section II and base plate It. A lateral extension 22 of the portion 20 of the frame (Figs. 1 and 2) carries a pedestal 23 which, as best shown in Fig. 2, may be suitably formed to provide a horn 2 which projects toward the left (Fig. 2) from the line of seam formation. This horn, it will be understood, may be used to facilitate the overedge stitching of tubular work. When the horn is used, a work support 25 is swung outwardly into inactive position. This work support, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, is adapted to pivot about a pin 26 mountedin a boss 27 projecting from the rear side of the frame portion 29. A collar 28, secured to thework support 25, is adapted to swivel with the latter about the axis of the pin 26. If desired, the horn 2 2 may be eliminated and the modified form of pedestal 23a, shown in Fig. 15, may be used. In this modified construction the work support 25a may be fixed, if desired, and the bracket 31 may be omitted.

The section 20' of the frame is recessed, as indicated at 29 in Fig. 1, to provide a space for thread tensioning means 39 and other thread control elements in a readily accessible position. A bracket 31 (Fig. 3) having an inner wall 32 is mounted in the reccess in the member 20 to provide the exposed space 29 and, at the same time, partially enclose the auxiliary chamber 21. An upwardly extending portion 33 of the frame section 2 has a contour merging with that of the cover l5 and is provided with an outwardly extending hollow boss 34 adapted to receive and retain thread tensioning and guiding means 35 for the needle thread.

A horizontally swingable cloth plate 36, providing an extension of the work support 25, is adapted to be swivelled about a pin 31 retained by a lug 3S projecting from the forward wall of the frame section I I (Figs. 1, 6 and 7). A collar 39, secured to the cloth plate, serves to retain the latter in its desired horizontal position, while at the same time permitting it to swivel about the axis of the pin 3'1.

Integral with the part 33 of the upper section of the frame is an outwardly extending head (Figs. 1 and 2) adapted to. retain a vertically slidable presser bar 4|. The latter is normally urged downwardly by a spring 42 whose tension may be varied by turning a thumb screw 43. A lateral projection 44 of the presser bar extends over the end of a lever 45 secured to one end of a shaft 46 which passes through the frame from the front to the back thereof. A spring 4! normally urges the lever. 45 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 2) to a position in which a slight clearance is provided between the end of the lever and the projection 44. Lifting of the presser bar against the action of spring 52 may be brought about by rocking the shaft 46 in a clockwise direction. For this purpose, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the end of the shaft 46 which projects from the rear of the frame has secured thereto an arm 48 which is clamped to the shaft by means of a screw 49. The arm 48 is L-shaped and it will be understood that it has a portion extending horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the shaft 46 and another portion 48 parallel with the shaft 46. The outer end of this parallel portion is provided with an eyelet 50 adapted to receive a rod or chain to connect it with a foot treadle, or knee control, or the like. A presser foot Ma (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) of any suitable construction, preferably pivoted to thelower end of the bar 4|, serves to urge the work against the throat plate portion of the cloth plate.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, a main driving. shaft i passes through the enclosed-chamber and extends beyond the end walls thereof. Adjacent its left end the shaft 5| is supported We plain bearing 52, preferably formed in two parts which are held together by'a. ring 53. The latter fits snugly in an opening in a wall 54 forming part of the lower section I of the'frame. 'Construction of the bearing in the manner explained permits introduction of the main shaft, with its various cranks to be hereinafter described, into the frame from the left end of Fig. 3'. Enlarged disc-like portions 55 and 56 at the opposite'ends of'the journalled portion of the shaft serve'to minimize the escape of lubricant'from the enclosed, chamber. Adjacent its right end, the shaft 51 is preferably supported by a pair of needle bearing units 51 and 58 mounted in a sleeve 59 carried by the end wall of the lower section if of the frame. Sleeve 59 has a radially extending flange 68 which is secured by screws iii to the end wall of the frame. Discs or washers 82 and 63, at the opposite ends of the. sleeve 5E3, serve to retain the needle bearing units within the sleeve and to form a closed, grease-tight chamber for the housing of these units. The outer free end of the shaft 5| carries a combined handwheel and pulley 6d which is secured to the shaft by a set screw 65. Provision is made for lubricating the needle bearings 57 and 58, preferably by means of heavy grease forced under pressure into the chamber formed within the sleeve as. For this purpose a pressure gun'fitting 6B, which may suitably be of the Zerk type, is mounted in a cup '67 which, in turn, fits in a recess in the hand wheel 64. Cup El has a screw threaded shank (i8 cooperating with internal screw threads in the end of the shaft 5|. It will be understood that an axial passage is provided from the fitting ts through the shank G8 to a bore in the end of the shaft 5!. This bore, in turn, communicates through radial passages with the outer surface of theshaft. Fitting 6% is provided with a ball valve or the like.

The stitch forming devices of the machine include a curved needle 89 suitably clamped in an arm is secured to, or formed integral with,-a rock shaft ll. This rock shaft is supported by a pair of needle bearing units 12 and 13 carried by an inwardly and outwardly extending boss formed on the member 33 of the frame. Washers W and H5, at the opposite ends of thebearing assembly, assist in retaining the parts in proper position and serve to forman enclosed chamber. Provision is preferably made for forcing a. heavy grease type of lubricant under pressure through a Zerk type fitting it, or the like, into an axial bore and out through radial passages in the shaft II. The inner end of shaft 1| carries an arm which is preferably provided with a split hub l? by which it may be clamped to the shaft. A pitman i8 is pivotally connected with the outer end of the arm and carries at its opposite end a strap is cooperating with a crank portion of the shaft 5!. Through these connections the needle will be reciprocated through a curved path upon each revolution of the shaft 5|. It will be noted, in this connection, that the axis of the shaft ll is substantially-in the plane of the work supporting surface 25. By virtue of this, the pointed end of the needle Edentersthe work'in a direction substantially perpendicular to the work support. Inthiswayth'e danger of needle cutting of thework is reduced to a minimum.

Cooperating with the needle, as it passes through the work to a point below the work support, is a looper (Figs. land 2).. This is fastened by screws. 81 toan arm182 (Fig. 11) secured to or formed integral'with a rock shaft 83. The latter is journalled in suitable bearings 84, 85 and 86,. carried by outwardly extending projections of the wall 54. Within a recessed. portion 8'! of this wall, there is secured, by means of screws or the like, the hub88 of an arm 89 having an L-shape, as shown in Fig. 11. From the outer end of arm '89 a ball stud 90 projectsthis'ball stud. being received by a strap!!! at the lower end of a pitman 92 which has at its opposite end a strap 93 cooperating with. aspherical crank portion 94 of the shaft 51. Through the connections described the .overedge looper. element 8% will'be oscillated upon each revolution of the shaft 5i.

An overedge looper 95 of the .elbow form is pivotally secured by means of a screw-stud 98 to the outer end of an arm 91, preferablyformed integral with a rock shaft 98 (Figs. 4 and 5). The arm has a threaded opening fits to receive the stud. Shaft 93 is suitably journalled in a bearing sleeve 99 (Fig.8) carried by an upwardly extending wall or partition Hi0 within the. auxiliary chamber 2 I. At its. lower end the overedge looper is pivotally secured, by means of 'a screwstud lei, to the outer end of an .arm [B2 preferably formed integral with a rock shaft 1% (Figs. 9, 10, and 11). Arm [02has a threaded opening liiia to receive the end of the screwstud. Rock shaft [813 is journalled in a'bearing sleeve Hi4 carried by the wall Hill. Atits inner end, within the auxiliary chamber, a cap-like sleeve is secured to the shaft, this sleeve having a radially extending ball stud N36. The latter cooperates with a strap IE1 at the lower end of a pitman-IBB (Fig.3) having a strap life at its upper end surrounding a spherical crank portion of the shaft 55. Through the connections described the overedge looper will be-given a combined bodily and pivotal movement which serves to carry its thread retaining end from a point below the work, upwardly and over the edge of the work to a point in the path of the needle for the formation of a three-thread, overedge stitch. If desired, the overedge locper may be replaced by a spreader, having simply a notched end which will serve 'toreceive the looper-thread from the underlo'oper and carry this around and over the edge of thework into the path of the needle. It will be understood that the relative timing of the needle and the two loopers is such as to provide the desired stitch.

The work feeding mechanism of the illustrative machine is of the differential feed dog type, the general mode of operation of-which is similar to that of the mechanisms disclosed in the'patents to Zeier, et a1. Ito/1,884,489, granted October 25, 1932, and Sauer No. 2,069,747, granted July 39, 1934. It comprises a main feed dog HE (Fig. '7) and an auxiliary feed clog [H adapted to receive a differential movement in relation'to the main feed dog. These feed dogs aregiven four motion movements by the mechanism to be presently explained.

The main feed dog is carried by the outer end of a feed bar 1 !2 (Figs. 3, '7 and 8) having-an elongated guide slot therein, the top and bottom surfaces of which are adapted for slidingmovement in relation to a' pair of blocks H3 carriedby a crank portion of the main shaft I, between radial flanges H4 and H5 (Fig. 3). Rotation of the shaft 5I serves to impart lifting and lowering movements to the feed dogs through the up and down movement of the blocks H3. The feed bar has a rearward extension H6 pivotally connected by a pin H1 with a rocker H8 secured to a rock shaft H9 (Fig. 8). The auxiliary feed dog HI has a downward extension secured by a screw I to a block carried by a rod I2I slidably mounted in bearings provided in lateral extensions I22 and I23 of the feed bar II2. Intermediate the bearings, the rod carries a block I24 adapted to be adjustably secured to the rod by means of screws I25. A stud I25, extending lat- .erally from the block I24, provides for the pivotal attachment thereto of one end of a link I21, the opposite end of which is swivelly mounted upon a bolt I28 adapted to be secured in any desired position along an arcuate slot I29 provided in an extension I38 of the feed rocker. By suitable selection of the position of the bolt I28, the auxiliary feed dog may be given either greater or smaller movements than the main feed dog, depending upon the character of the work being overedged.

Turning now to Fig. 12, the shaft H9, to which the feed rocker H8 is secured, is journalled at one end in a bearing sleeve I 3i carried by the frame section I I and it is journalled at an intermediate point in a bearing sleeve I32, also carried by the frame. A collar I33 secured to the shaft serves to retain it against endwise movement toward the left. At the opposite side of the bearing sleeve I32 the shaft carries a hub or sleeve I34, secured by screws I35 to the shaft. This sleeve has an upwardly extending, integrally connected arm I36 which passes through an aperture provided in a raised portion I31 of the base of the main enclosed chamber. Arm Ist has an elongated, arcuate slot I38 (Fig. 6) adjacent its upper end adapted to receive a bolt I39. The latter may be adjusted to any desired position along the slot I38 to vary simultaneously the feed stroke imparted to the two feed dogs. Bolt I39 has a spherical portion adapted to receive a strap I43 at one end of a pitman I4I, the opposite end of which has a strap I42 surrounding a crank portion of the main shaft 5|. Through the connections described, the feed bar I l2 will be given the feed stroke and return movements desired.

To prevent the escape of lubricant from the main chamber around the arm I36 2. washer-like element I43 is provided around the arm, this element having an opening arranged to snugly receive the arm and yet permit relative sliding movement between the two. It is held against the top surface of a shelf-like portion I44 of the raised part of the base of the chamber by means of a spring I45 secured by a screw I 46 to the shelf. To keep to a minimum the lubricant which tends to accumulate on the raised portion of the base, the latter, for the most part, merges along a curved wall I41 with a vertical wall I48. Thus any lubricant which may be deposited on the elevated portion of the base tends to drain back to the lower sump.

Means are also provided for trimming the edge of the work in advance of the formation of the overedge stitching at said edge. This means comprises a stationary trimmer :blade I49 (Figs. 1 and 8) mounted in a slide block I50 adjustably carried by the pedestal 23. A screw I5I is provided for adjustment of the block I50 in the pedestal and a screw I52 serves to clamp the block in adjusted position. Cooperating with the stationary trimmer blade is a movable blade I53 (Fig. 2) which is of inverted L-shape in cross-section. This blade is carried by a head I54 to which it is secured by a screw I55 which permits adjustment of the movable blade to conform with the adjustment of the stationary blade. Head I54 is formed integrally with an arm I55 (Figs. 3, '7, 16 and 17). The opposite end of the arm I56 has a hub I51 integral therewith, which is integrally or otherwise connected with a rock shaft I58 journalled in needle bearings I59 and IE0 carried by the same boss on the wall 33 of the housing which carries the needle rock shaft 1I. Washers or sealing discs ISI and I62 are provided on shaft 858 at the opposite ends of the boss to form an enclosed chamber for the needle bearings. On the inner end of the shaft I58, which extends into the enclosed chamber of the housing, there is clamped a sleeve I83 (Figs. 6, 7 and 13) having integral therewith an arm I54 carrying a ball pin I65. The latter is received within a strap I68 at the upper end of a pitman I51, the lower end of which is provided with a strap I 68 cooperating with a crank portion of the shaft 5|. Through the connections described the shaft I58 is rocked upon each rotation of the main shaft to carry the movable blade I53 downwardly through the work adjacent its edge to shear the edge to a desired line in cooperation with the stationary blade I49. To guide the arm I56 in its rocking movements and prevent its deflection as it shears the edge of the work a block I69 is secured, by screws or the like, to the inner side of the arm and this block is arranged to cooperate with a guide block I10 secured by screws to an adjacent portion of the frame. (See Figs. 16 and 17.) Shaft IE8 is preferably provided with an axial bore and radial openings for the delivery of heavy grease under pressure to the needle bearings. A suitable fitting 1', of the Zerk type or the like, is provided at the outer end of the shaft to permit the introduction of the grease.

Adjacent the center of the enclosed chamber of the housing, a disc I12 is secured to the shaft SI for rotation therewith. The disc is preferably slightly cupped or saucer-shaped and has a hub I13 secured to the shaft by screws I14. The arrangement is such that a small portion of the edge of the disc is always immersed in the lubricant in the base of the chamber. As the disc is rotated, it picks up small quantities of the lubricant and this is thrown by centrifugal force against the sides and top of the housing in the form of fine droplets. The arrangement is such that the entire interior of the housing becomes filled with a fine lubricant mist. None of the other driven parts are brought into contact with the lubricant so that there is no excessive churning of the oil and little resistance is offered by the lubricant to the turning of the main shaft. Acceleration of the machine, on starting up, is therefore not retarded by the lubricant.

A portion of the mist within the housing will deposit its lubricant directly upon surfaces requiring lubrication. Other portions will find their way indirectly to surfaces to be lubricated. For example, some will collect on the under surface of the top I5 and gradually flow down the slope of the latter; some of this will, in turn, flow downwardly along conical projections I15 and I16 from the points of which drops of lubricant will be deposited on various parts of the mechanism, as best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6. Some of the lubricant will be picked up by the wicks, best shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and delivered thereby to points outside of the enclosed housing. ius, a filled tube Ill has its wick extending into .the. housing where it serves to pick up a small amount of lubricant and deliver it to the feed rocker. A wick filled tube H3 similarly serves to pick up and deliver lubricant to the pivotal connection of link i 2? with the feed rocker. Another wick filled tube H9 serves to pick up and deliver lubricant to the bearing I23 for the slide rod I 21'. A further wick filled tube I89 serves to deliver some of the lubricant to the strap 9E9. while another wick filled tube it! serves to deliver lubricant to the bearing between link If! and. pin. .25. Other wick filled tubes may, if desired, be employed to deliver lubricant to various other points outside of the main housing.

Some of the lubricant, so delivered outside of the housing, will accumulate in the sump 21 (Fig. 8) and may be delivered by other wicking from this point to various surfaces to be. lubricated. For example, wicking 182. may extend downward- 1y from the shaft its to pick up some of this excess lubricant. This wicking extends through the length of the shaft H33 and upon oscillation of the latter serves to deliver the lubricant, by centrifugal force, through a radial passage I83 (Figs. 9v and 19) in the arm Hi2 and outwardly through a passage Hi l to lubricate the connection between arm 1.02 and the overedge lcoper 95.. A similar arrangement may be provided for lubricating the pivotal connection between this looper and the arm 91. For this purpose, wicking I85 (Fig. 3) extend'mg from the bore of the shaft 98 may passto a suitable point within the auxiliary chamber 2|. Thi wicking may pass through an aperture in the bracket 32, for this purpose. Lubricant so. delivered to the bore of the shaft 98 may be thrown, by centrifugal. force, through a radial passage i855 (Figs. 4 and 5) in the arm 91 and discharged. through an aperture I81.

At the front of the machine (Fig. 2) a pivoted cover plate 188 is provided to normally conceal and enclose the loopers and certain of the thread handling means. This cover is hingedly carried by a pin I89 supported by hinge members I90 formed on a plate l9l secured by screws is? to the base of the machine. A spring |93 serves to hold the cover normally against the frame of the machine but when access to the thread handling devices is desiredthe cover may be drawn outwardly by a handle 184.

It will be understood that various. accessory devices will be provided. These include appropriate thread handling means, some of which are illustrated but need not be described since they form no part of the invention to be claimed herein. Other accessory devices include a lubricant gage i95, formed of Lucite or the like, adapted to indicate at the top of the housing the level of the lubricant within the housing.

While an illustrative form of the invention has been disclosed in considerable detail, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the construction, arrangement, and operation of the various parts without'departing from the general principles and scope of the invention. Thus, while heavy grease lubrication has been disclosed with respect to certain bearings ordinary oil lubrication may be provided instead. For this purpose, means may be employed for directing some of the lubricant collected from the mist in the main housing to the small chambers enclosing the needle bearings.

What we claim is:

1. An overcdee sewing machine adapted for iii) high speed operation having .a frame providing a relatively low enclosed lubricant retainin h usin forming the major portion thereof, an extension at one side of the lower portion of said housing providing a work supporting surface, a main driving shaft extending through said housing and into said extension, a needle carrying member driven by said shaft from within said housing and arranged to reciprocate a needle from a point above said work supporting surface to and through the same, complemental stitch forming devices within said extension cooperating with said needle both below and above said worksupporting surf-ace, work feeding means in said extension, operating connections to said needle carrying member, said complemental stitch formingdevices and saidwork feeding means driven by said main shaft within said housing, substantially all of said operating connections being below the work. supporting surface, the portion of said connections within the housing being at all. timesentirely above the lubricant level therein, amember carried; by said main shaft arranged to rotate therewith. and extending continuously ihto'the lubricant in said housing for dispersing the same as a mist throughout the interior of the housing, and wicking exposed to said mist within the housin and extending through a wallcfsaidlhousing for delivering lubricant derived from said. mist to relatively moving surfaces ofv said stitch forming devices and work-feeding means exterior of said housing.

2. Anoveredgesewing machine having a frame providing a relatively low enclosed.lubricant-retaining housing. forming the major porti'onthereof, an extension. atone side of. the lower. portion of said housing providing-a work supporting surface, a main driving shaft extending through said housing and into said extension, a needle carrying member driven by said shaft from-within said housing and arranged toreciprocate a needle from a point abovesaid worksupportins surface to and throughthe same, compl'emental stitch forming devices within said extension cooperating with said needle both below and above said work supporting surface, work feeding means in. said extension, operating connections to said needle carrying member, said complemental stitch forming devices. and said work feeding means driven by said main shaft within said housing, substantially all ofsaid operating connections being below the worksupporting surface, the portion of said connections within the-housing being substantially entirely above the lubricant level therein, a member carriedby said main shaft and extending into the lubricant in said housing for dispersing the same a a mist throughout the interior of the housing, wicking exposed to said mist within the housing and extending through a wall of said housing for delivering lubricant derived from said mist to relatively moving surfaces of said stitch forming devices and work feeding means exterior of said housing, a lubricant collecting sump arranged to collect excess lubricant delivered to said surfaces exterior of the housing, and means for delivering said excess lubricant to other sur faces exterior of the housing.

3. An overedge sewing machine having a frame providing an enclosed lubricant retaining housing forming the major portion thereof, an extension at one side of the lower portion of said housing providing a work support, a main driving shaft extending through said housing and into said extension, a needle carrying member driven by said shaft from within said housing and arranged to reciprocate a needle from a point above said Work support to and through the same, complemental stitch forming devices within said extension cooperating with said needle both below and above said work support, work feeding means in said extension, operating connections to said needle carrying member, said complemental stitch forming devices and said work feeding means driven by said main shaft within said housing, the portion of said connections within the housing being substantially entirely above the lubricant level therein, said connections including a rock shaft and an arm secured to said rock shaft, a member carried by said main shaft and extending into the lubricant in said housing for dispersing the same as a mist within the housing, wicking extend ing through a wall of said housing for delivering lubricant derived from said mist to relatively moving surfaces of said stitch forming devices and work feeding mean exterior of said housing, a lubricant collecting sump arranged to collect excess lubricant delivered to said surfaces exterior of the housing, and means for delivering said excess lubricant to other surfaces exterior of the housing, said last recited means including wicking extending from said sump to and through said rock shaft, and said arm having a lubricant passage communicating with said wicking.

4. An overedge sewing machine having a frame providing an enclosed lubricant retaining housing forming the major portion thereof, an extension at one side of the lower portion of said'housing providing a work support, a main driving shaft extending through said housing and into said extension, a needle carrying member driven by said shaft from within said housing and arranged to reciprocate a needle from a point above said work support to and through the same, complemental stitch forming devices within said extension cooperating with said needle both below and above said work support, work feeding means in said extension, operating connections to said needle carrying member, said complemental stitch forming devices and said work feeding means driven by said main shaft within said housing, the portion of said connections within the housing being substantially entirely above the lubricant level therein, said connections to said work feeding means including a vertically disposed arm extending through a slot provided in a horizontally extending wall of said housing to a point exterior thereof, sealing means carried by said arm and cooperating with said slot to seal the same at all times, and a member carried by said main shaft and extending into the lubricant in said housing for dispersing the same as a mist within the housing.

5. An overedge sewing machine having a frame providing an enclosed lubricant retaining housing forming the major portion thereof, an extension at one side of the lower portion of said housing providing a work support, a main driving shaft extending through said housing and into said extension, a needle carrying member driven by said shaft from within said housing and arranged to reciprocate a needle from a point above said work support to and through the same, complemental stitch forming devices within said extension cooperating with said needle both below and above said work support, work feeding means in said extension, operating connections to said needle carrying member, said complemental stitch forming devices and said work feeding means driven by said main shaft within said housing, the portion of said connections within the housing being substantially entirely above the lubricant level therein, said connections to said work feeding means including an arm extending substantially vertically through a slot provided in an elevated portion of the bottom wall of said housing to a point exterior thereof, sealing means carried by said arm and cooperating with said slot to seal the same at all times, a rock shaft to which said arm is secured, said arm being adjustable angularly in relation to said rock shaft to vary the zone of operation of the work feeding means, said adjustment being effected exteriorly of the housing, and a member carried by said main shaft and extending into the lubricant in said housing for dispersing the same as a mist within the housing.

NED L. WAHENBERG. GEORGE SAUER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

